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[148] 9 DIARY OF FRANCIS TAYLOR, 1790, 1790, April,
29, Turned hazy before day, did not see frost this morning but still cold- Milder in evening- G.Taylor after breakfast set out on his way to Caroline, intends to Mr.F.Thornton's to-day- I went to J.Taylor's, J.Pendletons & T.Barbour's families were there- after dinner Old Mrs. Gaines came there- J.Taylor paid me 18/- I went with T.Taylor in evening to C.Taylor's, who intends to C.Conway's tonight & Fred'g tomorrow. I gave him a mem'dm to get me some medicine &c. & 6/- to help pay for them. C.Taylor had 1/2 Gal'o Linseed oil. Some Turkeys hatched yesterday & to-day. Sowed Parsneps in the pen- Began to set grass in the yard- Gibson went from C.Taylor's to Capt Conway's.
30, Weather smoky & warmer. I went to the Spinning Wheel Maker near Col Taliaferros & bought a Cotton wheel for which I paid him Two dollars- J.Taylor jr went with me and we went from there to Dade's Mill a fishing but the fish did not bite well and we returned about 2 o'clock- Frank brought the Wheel home. Bro'r James sent a large jug for Cider to put into his Vinegar Cask and had it twice filled. Richard & Colby Taylor returned from Caroline at night.
May,
1, I sowed some seeds in the Garden and had Watermelon, Muskmelon, Cucumber seeds planted in Plant patch below the Spring. Also some in the Old pen.
2, [SUNDAY] I walked to Church with Dicky & Colby, heard Mr.Stevenson preach, the Congregnation was not large. We returned to dinner- Weather warm & very smoky.
3, Moses Perry sowed Flax, I gave him some Timothy, Carrot & Parsnep seed to sow with it. Also gave some Sugar Beans to plant along the fence below garden- I killed a squirrel & a partridge to make broth. I took Salts in the morning- In evening went to C.Taylor- he ret'd 3/- of the dollar he had to get medecine for me, said he got Sp's Hartshorn & Elixor Vitriol for which I am to send vials to put yt in. M.Perry car'd to Dade's 4 1/2 Bus Rye.
4, Smoky, warm & cloudy, thunder & a few drops of rain- planted Indian peas in pen- Capt Burnley here after dinner going to his father's his wife is there, he says Mrs Bell is very low.
5, My mare has a female colt which fell last night. I went out and killed a squirrel. Moses Perry says he put my father's Sorril mare to Maj'r Moore's horse yesterday- J.Pendleton & J.Taylor jr was here an hour in evening.
6, I rode to Court house- Got my shoes mended for which I paid 1/- I returned to dinner, the weather very dry & warm till night when it changed cool & rained a little.
7, Very cool morning & cloudy, the earth almost dry- I went to Bowyer's the Sadler at Adam's Mill & got my saddle repaired and paid for it 7/6- I fished whilst there & caught 3 doz small fish- J.Pendleton went down & fished a little & we returned together. There was to be a Sale of Wm.Hawkins' property but we did not stay to it. Rob't Moore & G.Barbour came with the boys, they got some Indian peas for Maj'r Moore.
8, Continues Cloudy & cool- a few drops of rain early in the morning. cool evening. J.Taylor sent for me to go there to dinner. I went with the boys- C.Taylor, Mrs Gaines, J.Pendleton & family & T.Barbour & do., there.
9, [SUNDAY] Reuben Taylor walked here in the morning. I went with him & the boys to C.Taylor's to dinner. Sent a peck Indian peas to Capt. Conway.
10, Moses Perry was here in morning. I let him have a peck of the small Indian peas to plant and about as many large do. I rode to Court house, Maj'r Lee bought some Whisky at 3/- pr Gallon & told me I might have 6 Gallons of it. I saw Uncle Taylor & Maj'r Madison there, the latter came to Maj'r Lees & dined. Mr. T.Bell and Mrs Bell were there. I bought some Jeans of Maj'r Lee for Breeches & left with Doulin. I saw J.Taylor in the morning, he told me John Pendleton had a son born last night.
11, Had small Indian peas planted in a patch towards Drake's Branch, some of the large sort beyong plant beds. Moses Perry took some Watermelon-Muskmelon & Cucumber seed to plant for me- I gave some Cimbling seed to be planted in the Cornfield next y'd house which the negroes are re-planting- Sent some Potatoes peas & beans to C.Taylor's, they sent word Uncle & Aunt Taylot were there. I went over & dined- G.Taylor gone to the Mountains. Drawing earth into the Garden from the Spring & do. till rain next day.
From the TAYLOR DIARY, #1907-z in the Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina Library, Chapel Hill. FOR REFERENCE ONLY: PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MUST BE REQUESTED. WARNING: MOST MANUSCRIPTS ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT.